Govt considering ‘transfer’ options on resisting Governors

Facing resistance from Governors appointed during the UPA regime, the government is said to be considering options to ensure their exit as a second Governor quit the post after some of them asked to do so.

Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt, who was appointed in 2010, has stepped down from his post, two days after Union
Home Secretary Anil Goswami called some of them appointed by the previous government to quit.

On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Governor B L Joshi was the first to resign from his post. While Joshi had belonged to Indian Police Service, Dutt had retired from the Indian Administrative Service.

Official sources said that the government’s main problem was with the Governors who have a political background or those whose tenures were at an early stage.

Among the options that may be under the government’s consideration is a move to shift some Governors from politically “significant and big” states to what is considered as less significant states so that they are forced to give up on their own.

Another idea that may be put into effect is to allow CBI to question incumbents M K Narayanan (West Bengal), B V Wanchoo (Goa) as a witness in the investigations into the AugustaWestland helicopter deal.

A similar approach may be adopted in the case of Sheila Dikshit (Kerala), who may be questioned in connection with the 2010 Commonweath Games held in Delhi when she was Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, Nagaland Governor Ashwani Kumar today said he has not made any statement which was critical of the Centre’s move to replace the Governors.

“The Governor of Nagaland has not made any such statement anywhere, to any person or representative of media,” Joint Director of Department of Information and Public Relations and PRO to Governor, Dominic Yazokie here said in a statement.